The Futureheads share ‘The Twelve Days of Christmas’ alongside the new album ‘Christmas’
The Futureheads return with the best curveball of their 20+ year career with the release of their first ever album to beckon in the Yuletide season: Christmas – out now on Nul Records.
Made up mostly of those Christmas classics that never get old – but arguably almost always benefit from a fresh interpretation – the album was recorded over 9 months in their hometown Sunderland. Ironically, most of the work was laid down amidst the increasingly common phenomenon of the Great British Heatwaves, which added another dimension to proceedings . “If you’re going to make a Christmas album, and want it done and dusted (or should that be polished) in time to release during the appropriate season, then sweaty summer sessions are a must! And oh boy, did we have some sweaty ones.”
In addition to the covers found here – all expertly re-imagined enough to make a statement and laden with The Futureheads infamous vocal harmonies and unique sound – they’ve also found the time to write and record an original song ‘The Coldest Winter in 100 Years’ and have also included a festive fan favourite from 2010 ‘Christmas was Better in the 80s’ (Word). Christmas has been all arranged, recorded and produced by the band – Barry, Ross, Jaff and Dave. The album joins a long line of artists who have embraced the challenge of keeping Christmas cool – see Weezer, Sufjan Stevens, Bob Dylan, She & Him, Beach Boys and of course, James Brown, Frank & Bing (amongst notable others).
The idea for the record stemmed from the futuremen getting back to gigging in recent years. The fan demand to see their energy packed live shows has continued to grow but the band always held true to their roots and always love putting on the smaller hometown shows more than anything – which in recent years have fallen around Christmas. They explain “playing up in the North East for our fans were often billed as Christmas gigs, so we took it upon ourselves to work up some of our favourites of the genre (is it a genre?) to make those shows special.”
And so the idea of arranging and recording a full album was born: an album to be cherished and revived each year, like the stockings, fairly lights, baubles, wreaths; all manner of seasonal keepsakes that we put away in the attic every year when January kicks in and a New Year begins. The Futureheads follow a wonderful tradition of Chritsmas albums, with some of the very best holding a special place in most family’s festive celebrations year on year.
“We are proud to have self-produced this collection of recordings. We are also proud and grateful to be still making music together after all these years and this album is a celebration of that. We love being in this band and when in good spirits, we make a special sound.” The Futureheads
Christmas by The Futureheads – Tracklisting:
1. Carol of the Bells
2. Stop the Cavalry
3. Have Yourself a Merry little Christmas
4. What’s This?
5. In The Bleak Midwinter
6. The Twelve Days of Christmas
7. Wonderful Christmastime
8. 2000 Miles
9. The Coldest Winter for a Hundred Years (original)
10. Christmas Was Better in the 80s (original)